Prove trees on Cadell Road a threat: HC to cops, BMC

The Bombay High Court on Tuesday asked the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) and Mumbai traffic police to place on record the traffic census outside the Dadar Catering College on Cadell Road, to ascertain whether two fully grown trees on the road are posing a threat and need to be cut.

A division bench of Justice RM Sawant and Justice Sadhana Jadhav gave a last chance to the authorities and asked them to come prepared on the next date of hearing with data indicating the number of accidents that occurred on the road due to trees.

The bench felt, "Since the construction of the Bandra-Worli Sea Link, majority of traffic would have been diverted there, thus less traffic would be plying on Cadell road."

There are two fully grown trees that the corporation intends to cut, as it claims they lead to accidents. The bench terming this issue as 'serious' in which it did not want to pass any orders without properly being assisted by the authorities said, "We give the corporation last chance to present its side or else we will ask the legal officer of the corporation to remain present in court on the next date."

Professor Dr AD Sawant who is leading the fight to protect the trees said, "The trees are around 40 years old and pictures show that they are fully grown. If these trees are transplanted to a nearby place it will not help the trees survive."